Ahoj.
Since I am a proponent of "right fit for the write job," here is a starter kit for people who do Game Narrative.
@me if I've missed you — just have to be a not-shit person and have a writer/ND track record — or want to be taken off the list
go.bsky.app/FwZqzcz
What's that, I spy? A bratty angel, less than thrilled to be assigned to the Underworld to conduct an audit?
Introducing Elyon, a side character that will feature in A Date with Death 2: REMNANTS!
Elyon is just one of many characters you'll be able to befriend(?) in ADWD2 🦉
⤵️
Hey look, a good person. Walked onto one of the largest stages available in the largest supporter and facilitator of Israeli genocide and terror, and just said it. It'll cost him in opportunities, but at least his children & grandchildren won't have to be fucking embarrassed about him.
I've talked about this before, but if you worked for a studio in *any* capacity during the development of a game, full-time or contract, you should be in the credits.
Yes, even if your tech or tools were used in the engine or concept docs and you left before production "started."
In solidarity with all those standing up for our communities against the brutality of immigrant detention and ICE occupation, we're offering free ebooks of three crucial books about migrant justice and border abolition.
Man.
Reading the section about IGF being smuggled away at the back, no press at the press hour, is absolutely gutting.
Being on the pavilion the year before the COVID-era noms had to have their experience from home, I felt incredibly bad for them. I now wonder if that was the last best time.
honestly it's been a good week for very clearly demonstrating that successful projects have skilled human narrative designers and human editors
And I just couldn’t believe they put it right in the deck, “we’ve got all the artists and engineers and indies kettled in one place, on a plate, so you can feast on their hopes and dreams.” Because the conference needs to stay relevant—valuable—and it’s the publishers who have money for passes
Inititives like this are a huge part of how developers in Canada, Germany, and other countries with such grants were able to wind up such flourishing indie scenes tbh
A real and actually true and cheap way would be using Vocaloids as your replacement until the real voiceover is done.
That's what I would do at least.
It would also be WAY cheaper than genAI, because you only pay once for the software as opposed to a monthly subscription.
And it sounds just as bad 👍
at least there was no blockchain stuff this time around i guess? small wins?
i had a good time at gdc but almost all of that is attributed to the people i met because of it--$950 base pass price at a time when so many devs are unable to find work and the sheer volume of generative AI talks and expo floor booths was just demoralizing to see
The only thing GDC had for me - which was invaluable - was camaraderie with and education from my peers.
The Companies and Industry have made clear they are indifferent to me at best, and GDC that it would rather court them, not us.
GDC is a fireplace, not a hearth. And definitely not the fire.
I ask you to take 3 minutes out of your day to read this, as a reminder of what true evil looks like.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
An illustration showing tiny nautical creatures, like sea stars, crabs, shrimps, mollusks, seashells, and more!
just some stuff in the water 🦀🐚🌿 #art
As always, a great read from @meredithgran.com. Gets at something I have felt intensely with each passing year — and ultimately why I couldn’t justify attending.
Industry spaces make little to no room for parents. Perhaps in part a result of how industry vets have left for other, more stable fields
Meredith saying something I’ve spent a lot of the last couple years thinking about:
I feel like there are 3 GDCs that just happen to take place in the same place at the same time.
1. Executive GDC: Big money. Business deals. Sponsorships.
2. In-group GDC: Old friends. War stories. Inside jokes.
3. Out-group GDC: Optimism. Spectacle. Overwhelming.
Lisa Simpson doing kids news, standing by an abandoned railroad crossing. “The old memes don’t come by here much anymore…” Suddenly dat boi appears. “Oshit waddup”
A lot of the devs I’ve talked to about Outersloth don’t seem to understand fund vs Publisher. I had one dev argue with me about Outersloth and asked me if I was sure they’re a fund. I’m pretty sure since I signed one of the initial Outersloth contracts. Anyways, more funds to offset publishers!
GDC 2026 attendance is down 33% YoY. Here's a chart comparing recent years. 2020-2022 were impacted by COVID-19.
This could be because of the rebrand not being received well.
Alternatively, there may be another reason why attendance declined at the event hosted in the United States.
people wonder why orgs like @gdocexpo.com still exist... just read this thread
There are still so many close minded pea brained people out there who just don't get it, yet still call themselves "professionals"
loser behavior 💀
I'm home and I've written a bit on my blog about post-GDC feelings:
meredithgran.com/gdc-thoughts...
Left: Minimal line art drawing of a cat that is enclosed in a pink rectangle. Label: Kitten is completely full of crimes Right: the same cat art but twice the size. The same size rectangle covers only the bottom of the cat. Label: Adult cat contains the same amount of crimes but it does not dominate all of their behaviors
women at GDC being asked “do you work in games?” is such a stupid question. most people i know work in an office or from home
Hear me out...
Univerally praised games are neat enough, but nothing hits quite like something unpopular that speaks to *you*.
So show-and-tell: Link and Explain a game that's UNDERRATED (sub-500 user reviews), UNDERRATED (sub 80% score) or BOTH (ideally!) that is near and dear to your heart.
They truly want you to believe this shit is inevitable and actually better than human endeavor but the one surefire thing that can stop it is not agreeing to the first two things. That’s all! That also means not willingly feeding it. It’s not difficult to avoid using it!
Not at #GDC but I’m #WhatAGameDevLooksLike
Writer, editor, Narrative Designer and DEI Consultant for 10+ years. A very hireable one, still seeking work a year after Monolith’s closure. ✌🏾
So many awesome folks doing the #WhatAGameDevLooksLike thing this year! I'm not going to repost everything because it's a bit much, and I mostly don't post selfies, but you should definitely check out the hashtag. It's a nice reminder that the industry is diverse and this should be celebrated.
